Comments on: Switzerland has moved.

Switzerland has moved.

vowe — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 03:32:42 -0800

Switzerland has moved. At least according to the folks at CNN. May be regarded as offensive ... Received this picture by e-mail, so I have no better link than to my own site.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 03:40:41 -0800

Oops. That would be the Czech Republic.

By: Dagobert

Dagobert — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:01:13 -0800

How very, very embarrassing. At least they still don't have a navy.

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:04:18 -0800

Probably because Swiss acronym is CH(Confederation Helvetica or something)and someone punched in "CH" for the Czech Republic? Definitely an improvement, though.

By: iain

iain — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:10:15 -0800

What do you mean an improvement? I was wanting to go to Prague, and now they've gone and moved it...

By: tippiedog

tippiedog — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:32:23 -0800

Damn! And all that time I lived in Constance, Germany, I thought I was 1 km from the Swiss border. Guess I should have been watching CNN. This reminds me of something I heard several years ago. I was listening to Rush Limbaugh (I was suffering from temporary insanity) when he confirmed his ignorance. He was slamming the Swedes for their 'socialist' government; he said something to the effect, "And they don't even have a military--well, there are the guards at the Vatican--but..." Problem is, the guards in Rome are the Swiss guards. Oops.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:44:19 -0800

> Probably because Swiss acronym ... Or because the dorks who put together the map have never been to Europe and wouldn't be able to find Switzerland on a real map. By the way, that picture was one of several I have received recently in e-mail from friends. (The sort of friends who, unfortunately, forward too many lame jokes to everyone in their address books.) Another popular photo forwarded around Europe these days is one of W frowning as Osama does him Afghan style. A printout (not from me) of that one was also a big guffaw-getter among patrons of my local. People asked for copies.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 04:54:24 -0800

I'm not defending CNN - as a news broadcaster they really should be getting their geography right - but some people are just crap at geography (me). I've seen maps of Europe a million times (I do live there after all) but it's still a bit hazy. It's those pesky balkans that always get me. As long as a country's got a funny shape I'm OK. If they're in the middle of a land mass it gets more difficult. I suppose I'm just a bit retarded. I can't do numbers either - I'm incapable of remembering a date or doing more than basic maths. I do really badly at trivia quizes as you can imagine.

By: Darke

Darke — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 05:10:52 -0800

http://hardocp.com/new_img_01/sept/cnn_geography.html

By: presto

presto — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 05:18:23 -0800

ahhh.... the wonderful accountability and quality that we receive from our news services!

By: igor.boog

igor.boog — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 05:37:15 -0800

Well, I guess this shows the extensive influence of the media, the enormous power of the networks. News is not reported, news is made. When me and my colleagues over here in the Middle East want to report on something (we have to make a living, you know) we ask the locals to do something interesting and then we report on it. That is why it is such a mess in the world. ;-) Now the media has started moving countries. I wonder what my next assignment will be.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:07:43 -0800

Actually, the Swedes moved their country themselves. It was in response to Charlton Heston trying to set up an NRA office in their Presidential residence after the recent shooting spree. Can't say as I blame them. Next time we catch him passed out drunk we should move the White House!!!!!

By: Holden

Holden — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:12:27 -0800

As someone who works in "the media," as people here constantly call it (I'm a reporter for a web site), all I gotta say is: The next time you make a mistake at work, please broadcast it to a worldwide audience so we can make fun of you. Unless you never make mistakes at work, stop being so holier-than-thou.

By: matteo

matteo — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:14:04 -0800

as a foreigner, I've always liked the way American TV networks, during the Olympic Games, give you those great captions, like "Switzerland is the size of Delaware", or stuff like that it's a nice geography course, isn't it?

By: bragadocchio

bragadocchio — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:28:04 -0800

Ariel Sharon said yesterday that Israel will not be Czechoslovakia (NYTimes - registration required). I guess Switzerland had second choice.

By: geronimo_rex

geronimo_rex — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:43:50 -0800

It's the equivalent of a typo. Funny? Yes. Damning? Don't drown in your own significance.

By: spilon

spilon — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:53:35 -0800

The map must've been made by some AOLer...

By: eljuanbobo

eljuanbobo — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 06:57:38 -0800

Mistake? Holden, there's a WORLD of difference between labeling the Czech Republic as "Switzerland" and me forgetting to turn my timesheet in on time. If we put up a map in front of one of our international clients (I work for an architecture firm) mislabeling a country, you could BET they would be looking for a new architecture firm. Details matter. If your details aren't right? Don't run the story. It seems there are far too many various MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS (to not say "the media") that are more intent on hysterics and pushing anything out the window. I have simply stopped watching the damn news. Have you HEARD some of the questions reporters ask at White House briefings? White House Press Guy: "And we're not going to comment on wheter or not the bomb was a terrorist bomb. Okay, questions?" Reporter 1: "Yes, I'd like to know if the bomb was a terrorist bomb." Which will be followed by a string of idiots trying to rephrase the question. Reporters no longer report news, they want to make news from scratch to sell adverts. [/ rant]

By: holgate

holgate — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 07:03:28 -0800

Ariel Sharon said yesterday that Israel will not be Czechoslovakia. You mean a state carved out of the remnants of an old empire in the aftermath of a world war? Oops. already there, Ariel.

By: normy

normy — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 07:09:03 -0800

Actually, the Swedes moved their country themselves ...Sweden's been moved too?

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 07:33:09 -0800

And yet...

By: themikeb

themikeb — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 07:52:06 -0800

just another fine example of the lack of American education about the rest of the world....

By: prodigal

prodigal — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:02:40 -0800

How many Swiss could find Nebraska on a map? I'm guessing very few, and that includes their journalists. Of course it's the Swiss' own fault. They're too damn peaceful. As Harry Lime said to the best of my recollection, "400 years of peace and what have they produced? The cuckoo clock."

By: aramaic

aramaic — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:28:36 -0800

...well, and fondue. I mean, we can't forget the fondue.

By: aureliano buendia

aureliano buendia — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:30:13 -0800

"How many Swiss _JOURNALISTS_ could find Nebraska on a map?" you surely wanted to ask ...

By: arco

arco — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:32:34 -0800

...well, and fondue ...and my watch. I like my watch.

By: bjgeiger

bjgeiger — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:36:34 -0800

Chocolate, the best chocolate.

By: vowe

vowe — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:40:19 -0800

Opps, another one. The cuckoo clock is from a different country. I am sure you will find other things the Swiss have achieved besides food.

By: Holden

Holden — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 08:48:48 -0800

Eljuanbobo, Are you saying that no one at your firm, not even you, has ever made an absent-minded mistake, or are you saying that the occasional absent-minded mistake has consequences? Do you intend to imply that the architects at your firm never make mistakes? I get annoyed at the questions that are asked in White House news conferences, too. Reporters tend to get promoted to the White House beat because they're good at office politics, not because they're good reporters. Remember that Woodward and Bernstein were on the night police beat when the Watergate break-in occurred. But I think you're exaggerating the coneheadedness of White House reporters. It's OK if you exaggerate, but not OK if journalists exaggerate. As for your statement that reporters don't want to report the news, they just make it up to sell ads: I'm a reporter and I don't make up stuff. I have many friends who are reporters and they don't make up stuff. Who's making up stuff?

By: frednorman

frednorman — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:18:30 -0800

I am sure you will find other things the Swiss have achieved besides food. One of the best banking systems in the world, for one.

By: gazingus

gazingus — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:45:10 -0800

One of the best banking systems in the world, for one. Sure made a good impression on the Nazis.

By: Hildago

Hildago — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:47:22 -0800

And their cheese could use a little work.. it's not even water tight.

By: Holden

Holden — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:53:20 -0800

Behold the power of Swiss cheese. Dynastar makes excellent skis. They're Swiss. Trying to think of more condescending things to write...

By: heather

heather — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:57:21 -0800

on a separate but similar note. my friend nicole pointed out that there was something of a geographical impossibilty in wednesday's west wing when the terrorist was caught crossing from ontario to vermonot. um, well, ontario and vermont don't share a common border. we've de-tivoed the episode so i can't be sure, but it rings a bell.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:10:20 -0800

Behold the power of Swiss cheese. Dynastar makes excellent skis. Have you strayed in from the modern poetry thread?

By: spnx

spnx — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:13:50 -0800

heather - ding, ding! (two thread bells, actually) The non-existant Canada-US border passed without a blip, (pretty much), in these threads: http://www.metafilter.com/comments.mefi/11099 http://www.metafilter.com/comments.mefi/11090

By: skallas

skallas — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:13:59 -0800

Picutre received by email. Someone want to tell me why photoshop has been ruled out? How many Swiss could find Nebraska on a map? I'm sure they can find the US. There's a difference between knowing where a country is and knowing which state is which.

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:14:27 -0800

Gruyère and Emmenthal cheeses; Ricola candy; Williamine pear brandy; Vallois white wine; Omega Speedmaster watches(never right but cool); Swatches(never wrong but not); Max Frische(most underrated European writer); Lindt chocolate; Jean-Luc Godard; Alain Tanner; the Neue Zurcher Zeitung newspaper; the Red Cross; Geneva Conventions... it never ends. It's just annoying how such a tiny country, with such smug, policeman-like citizens has so much to offer. Only Japan gets more interesting stuff per square inch. Just not fair, but true nonetheless.

By: monkey-mind

monkey-mind — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:21:55 -0800

just another fine example of the lack of American education about the rest of the world.... ???? Fer chrissakes, people, get over yourselves. CNN is run by humans, just like the rest of the world, and occasionally humans screw up. If CNN was consistently mistaking the Czech Republic for Switzerland, I'd be concerned. But this? Some graphic artist was slapping something together quickly and made a mistake. Like you've never made a dumb-ass mistake before... You should just be grateful your dumb-ass mistakes don't get broadcast worldwide.

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:22:54 -0800

This doesn't surprise me. I'm reminded of another thing I saw on CNN, I was looking at one of those blurbs they run at the bottom of the screen, and it said "Hijackers may have used knives purchased in Switzerland." I hadn't seen this anywhere else, I just assumed some idiot at CNN misunderstood that the hijackers used swiss army knives as indication of some Swiss connection.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:23:37 -0800

Hey, I've got a Swatch! But only because I'm allergic to metal. Lindt 70% dark chocolate is the best food ever.

By: riffola

riffola — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:26:55 -0800

The Formula 1 team Sauber is based there to.

By: gazingus

gazingus — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:36:16 -0800

Weak, skallas. Locating the U.S.-- 10 million square kilometers, bounded on either side by two major bodies of water, 250 million people--is not like trying to find a tiny area in the jumble of European countries. Quick, find Djibouti. Now find China.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 10:47:02 -0800

Pardon the error. (blush) I truly meant Swiss... "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

By: holgate

holgate — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 11:07:46 -0800

Locating the U.S.-- 10 million square kilometers, bounded on either side by two major bodies of water, 250 million people--is not like trying to find a tiny area in the jumble of European countries. Um, the borders on the map are there to help you. Tiny? Only for those with a tiny knowledge of the world.

By: jnthnjng

jnthnjng — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 11:15:09 -0800

gazingus, your example is just as weak. Sure, maybe the sizes are relatively analogous to the US/switzerland, but Djibouti doesn't have nearly the geographical/ political/ etc importance to the US as Switzerland does. A better analogy in terms of size and importance might be: Quick, find south korea, now find china. Not that difficult (I would hope)

By: skallas

skallas — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 11:45:11 -0800

Weak, skallas... not like trying to find a tiny area in the jumble of European countries. Funny my maps have borders and names. What is this about again? A typo made on CNN. Now its a contest to find the most obscure nation in the world? Next up: Sealand! Go!

By: skallas

skallas — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 11:49:00 -0800

Actually to be more accurate, asking to find Nebraska in the US is like asking to find the Oita prefecture in Japan. Not terrible important in the world scene is it? Countries and states/apples and oranges.

By: gazingus

gazingus — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 12:03:35 -0800

You're right skallas, I got off topic, had some fuzzy logic, and got sufficiently reprimanded by holgate and jnthnjng. I'm sorry. :: goes back to studying European map :: BTW, Sealand is too easy! It would not have been without the recent press given to HavenCo

By: stoneegg21

stoneegg21 — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 13:42:21 -0800

Finding Nebraska also isn't incredibly hard, anyway. We're right in the middle. Probably easier to find on a map of the U.S., than Switzerland on a map of Europe.

By: Zootoon

Zootoon — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 14:03:07 -0800

In reference to a post way back, Switzerland does actually have a navy, which I suppose must be on Lake Geneva and is bigger than the Irish (Ireland being an island) navy. You have to give us points for not trying in a sport which is not ours (outside bars that is, well not even outside bars if you know what I mean). Me being Irish I suppose is perfunctory. Even Yeats got lost on his rowing boat trying to find Inishfree and wrote his most famous poem (according to him) about an island he never found. Poetic in itself.

By: schlaager

schlaager — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 14:44:16 -0800

"Switzerland does actually have a navy, which I suppose must be on Lake Geneva" The Swiss Navy is based in Wisconsin? :)

By: tippiedog

tippiedog — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 15:20:28 -0800

The Swiss do indeed have a navy, and it operates on Lake Constance (which is on the border between Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and is quite beautiful).

By: arf

arf — Fri, 05 Oct 2001 16:02:58 -0800

i miss the obvious joke: switzerland is were the banks are and they have loads of czechs.

By: loukas_c

loukas_c — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:12:51 -0800

Some graphic artist was slapping something together quickly and made a mistake. Like you've never made a dumb-ass mistake before... unfortunetly, this graphic artists mistake cost him his job on-air after the anchor caught the mistake.

By: vowe

vowe — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 13:57:52 -0800

Loukas_c: Do you have a source for that ? Just curious.

By: diddlegnome

diddlegnome — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 19:17:50 -0800

These mistakes of geography can happen a lot closer to home, and the simplest stuff can be the hardest to catch. A couple of years ago, The Associated Press (the Portland bureau, I believe) sent out a map that showed a part of the Oregon Coast, with a large body of water west of Oregon labeled "Atlantic Ocean." Oops. My paper published it just that way. Double oops. We still joke about that one.

By: loukas_c

loukas_c — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 22:19:59 -0800

Do you have a source for that ? Just curious. sadly not an official source, someone had called me just after it all happened but i couldnt get to a tv fast enough, and i heard the same tale from several unrelated sources. it does sound relatively dubious, and with no official backing.... but in high stress times, it isn't all that implausible that someone over reacted over it

By: pracowity

pracowity — Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:47:00 -0800

> Finding Nebraska also isn't incredibly hard, anyway. The real trick is losing it.